Town of Willington
BOARD OF SELECTMEN • 40 OLD FARMS ROAD • WILLINGTON, CONNECTICUT 06279 • (860) 487-3100 • FAX (860) 487-3103
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SPECIAL MEETING SEPT. 13, 2004
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING 6:30 P.M.
First Selectman Eldredge called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectman Patton, L. Nicholls, S. & J. Lewis and R. Tulis. First Selectman Eldredge led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 8/16/04, 8/19/04 & 8/27/04.
First Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
PRESENT TO SPEAK – No one.
CORRESPONDENCE
A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office.
PUBLIC WORKS
Lynn Nicholls, Public Works Supervisor, reported that they are sweeping the area that is going to be chip sealed starting Wed. Hockla Farms is finished, they will put one or two more run offs in there. Hipsky did a good job. We did storm clean up for a week and next is catch basins. First Selectman Eldredge commented that Karl Acimovic came up with a fix for the Ketches Road Bridge to get us through. First Selectman Eldredge asked Lynn if she heard from the utilities. Lynn commented that Karl did not see an immediate need to do it, SNET said to just give them a heads up when we want it done. First Selectman Eldredge commented lets just have them do it so that when we are ready to do the bridge that is done. Lynn commented that we are getting the trucks ready one by one for
plowing; the sand is ordered and the calcium and salt is ready.
APPOINTMENTS
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPOINT PAUL SCHUR TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, TO REPLACE A. FOX.
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
Selectman Patton commented that perhaps we should think of having terms on this committee. We might vary the terms, some for 2 years and some for 3 years. First Selectman Eldredge commented that he will bring it up at the first CIP meeting.
CT FOREST & PK ASSOC./TOWN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
First Selectman Eldredge commented that he talked to Adam Moore of the CFPA regarding the date for purchase; there must be a firm date regardless of funding. Selectman Patton asked if there is any sort of a down payment, refunded or not? First Selectman Eldredge commented that we will have the Town Attorney develop
SPECIAL MEETING -2- SEPT. 13, 2004
the sales agreement, there will be no survey, and it will be turned over as is. Selectman Patton commented that #7 refers to unencumbered; the agreement should reflect that it is encumbered or if they need to sell the property we should get some of the proceeds above the $250,000. We are selling with the presumption that it is for conservation, that should be in the sale agreement. First Selectman Eldredge commented that he thinks the encumbrance would have to be part of the sales agreement; we are putting the encumbrance on it, the whole idea of why we are selling it to them is to keep it in conservation. Selectman Patton commented that he agrees but they may need that in there in order to raise money so if #7 stays we need to have it in the agreement that we want part of the profits. First
Selectman Eldredge commented that they are going to convey the property to UCONN without an agreement on their property. Selectman Patton commented that that is predicated on UCONN putting restrictions on their land. First Selectman Eldredge commented that we need a firm closing date. Selectman Patton commented that his only issue is to stipulate that if for some reason they have to sell the property without the conservation easement, we want a share of the profits; it is worth more without the encumbrance. First Selectman Eldredge commented that if they go for grants they may need a new appraisal and they should have to pay for that. Selectman Patton agreed and commented that we have 2 goals, to raise money for the library and to protect that property.
TAX REFUNDS
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $29.72 TO CHARLENE BOWEN.
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $1,754.71 TO COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS.
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $95.13 TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL.
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $6.19 TO MARIE HOCHESTETTER
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $28.73 TO PHILIP NEVERS.
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $25.51 TO L. OR M. PINATTI.
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
SPECIAL MEETING -3- SEPT. 13, 2004
SET DATE FOR TOWN MEETING
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO HOLD A TOWN MEETING AT 7:00 PM AT THE TOWN HALL ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2004 TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF $269,000 FROM CAPITAL PROJECTS SENIOR CENTER TO BE FUNDED FROM THE HUD LIEN PROGRAM INCOME.
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
Selectman Patton commented that I know we have a new policy, but if we were to follow this we would have to go for the whole $1.M, we never went to Town Meeting to spend the original $1M; we need to change all the policies. First Selectman Eldredge commented that I thought you resolved that with the auditors and we did have approval to spend the grants, this is beyond the grants. Selectman Patton commented that he understands the policy if that’s the policy now. We have already spent most of this money; grants for the last 25 years never needed Town Meeting approval; we are trying to retroactively apply something, a new policy. First Selectman Eldredge commented that the Town Attorney said you should have authorization from the town for any spending, without approval the auditors will
question it. Selectman Patton commented that through the policy we already had when we first got these grants we got approval; grants outside of Town appropriations, this is all State and Federal money, did not need Town Meeting unless the grant states that. If we say from now on we must go to Town Meeting that’s fine, but for this we are opening ourselves to an issue that is not fair. We have a letter from DECD that says you have the authorization to spend this money. It has always been that State and Federal grants were authorized by the State and Federal Government to spend. It has been that way for at least 25 years or more. We have been authorized spending of this money. First Selectman Eldredge asked if Selectman Patton thought we should not go to Town Meeting. Selectman Patton commented that we were authorized to spend this money in good faith, we did not go for the original money and this is part of that. If we are
spending Town money we must go to Town Meeting, specific grant money never went to Town Meeting before; the State or the Federal Government authorized it. If we want to change the policy that is fine for future grants, this project is done. This was already spent in good faith, approved by DECD, it is Federal money. First Selectman Eldredge commented now that we have done the sequence of events, the Board of Finance authorized the Town Meeting, I think we should have the Town Meeting. Selectman Patton commented that we are really asking for a rubber stamp after it is done, this is not money that was out of Town funds. LOCIP money says you must get Town Meeting approval. We did not go through this process for the original $1M and now we are going for this. It has been different for the last 25 years.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
GOOD & WELFARE - None
SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:15 P.M.
First Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON) 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bowen
Mary Bowen
Secretary
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